17- PROTECTION OF CIVIL RIGHTS ACT 1955.doc

THE PROTECTION OF CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, 1955 Act, No.22 OF 1955) (As on the 1 st Sete!"e#, 19$$)  An Act to prescribe punishment punishment for the preaching and practice of “untouchability” “untouchability” for the enforcement of any disability arising there from and for matters connected therewith. Be it enacted by Parliament in the Sixth Year of the Republic of ndia as follows! 1 Sho#t T%t&e, e'tent n co!!ence!ent co!!ence!ent "#$%his Act may be called the Protection of &i'il Rights Act(#)**. "+$t extends to the whole of ndia. ",$t shall come into force on such date as the &entral -o'ernment may( by notifications in the fficial -a/ette appoint. 2. *e+%n%t%ons n this Act( unless the context otherwise re0uires!1 "a$ ”ci'il rights” rights” means any right right accruing to a person by reason reason of the abolition abolition of “untouchability” “untouchability” by article #2 of the &onstitution3 "aa$ “hotel” includes includes a refreshment refreshment room( a boarding house( house( a lodging lodging house( a coffee coffee house and a caf43 "b$

“place” includes a house( building and other structure and premises3 and also includes a

tent( 'ehicle and 'essel3$ "c $ “Place “Place of public public entertainme entertainment” nt” includes includes any place to which the public are admitted admitted and in which an entertainment is pro'ided or held. E'&nt%on-“5ntertainment” E'&nt%on-“5ntertainment” includes any exhibition( performance( game( sport and other form of amusement3 "d$

“place of of public worship” means a place( by whate'er name 6nown( 6nown( which which is used used as a place place

of public religious worship or which is dedicated generally to( or is used generally by( persons professing any religion or belonging to any religious denomination or any section thereof( for the performance of any religious ser'ice( or for offering prayers therein3 and includes1 "i$ all lands and subsidiary subsidiary shrines appurtenant appurtenant attached or to any such place3 place3 "ii$

a pri'ately owned owned place place of worship worship which is( is( in fact( allowed allowed by the the owner thereof thereof to be used used

as a place of public worship( and "iii$ "iii$ such land or subsidiary subsidiary shrine shrine appurten appurtenant ant to such pri'atel pri'ately y owned place of worship as is allowed by the owner thereof to be used as a place of public religious worship3$ "da$ "da$

“presc “prescrib ribed ed”” means means presc prescrib ribed ed by rule rules s made made under under this this Act3 Act3

"db$ "db$

“sch “sched edul uled ed caste castes” s” has the mean meanin ing g assi assign gned ed to it in claus clause e "+7$ "+7$ of articl article e ,88 ,88 of the

&onstitution3$ "e$ "e$

“sho “shop” p” mean means s any premi premise ses s where where good goods s are sold sold either either whol wholes esal ale e or by reta retail il or both both

wholesale and by retail and includes1 "i$

any place place from where where goods are sold by a haw6er or or 'endor or from a mobile 'an or cart( cart(

"ii$

a laundry and a hair cutting saloon3

"iii$ any other place where ser'ices are rendered to customers. . P/n%sh!ents +o# en+o#c%n0 #e&%0%o/s %s"%&%t%es 9hoe'er on the ground of “untouchability” pre'ents any person1 "a$ from entering any place of public worship which is open to other persons professing the same religion or any section thereof( as such person3 or "b$ from worshipping or offering prayers or performing any religious ser'ice in any place of public worship( or bathing or using the waters of( any sacred tan6( well( spring or water1course "ri'er  or la6e or bathing at any ghat of such tan6( water1course( ri'er or la6e$ in the same manner  and to the same extent as is permissible to other persons professing the same religion or any section thereof( as such person3 shall be punishable imprisonment for a term of not less than one month and not more than six months and also with fine which shall be not less than one hundred rupees and not more than fi'e hundred rupees. E'&nt%on- :or the purpose of this section and section 7 persons professing the buddhist( Si6h or ;ain religion or persons professing the ingayats( Adi'asis( followers of Brahmo( Prarthana( Arya Sama? and the Swaminarayan Sampraday shall be deemed to be